The open kitchen dust off the codes of traditional cooking. Open to the living room or dining room, the kitchen becomes an integral part of the living room. However, there are a few rules to follow in order to successfully design this type of kitchen. Decryption.
It has been making more than one dream for ages. And for good reason: the main advantage of the open kitchen is that it is resolutely friendly and practical. Two important qualities that have earned him the status of star of the kitchens for nearly a century...
THE SHORT HISTORY OF THE OPEN KITCHEN
History too often confuses the French open kitchen with American cuisine, the star of the fifties and the American way of life. However, at the beginning, the open kitchen is a very French story that dates back to the end of the nineteenth century. In wealthy circles, the kitchen was long relegated to the backyard, hidden like the servants and their back staircase. The architecture of the evolving habitats, in particular with the revolution of Haussmanian Paris, had a strong impact on its renewal. The kitchen will necessarily become more and more visible to the eyes of all and the mistress of the house will multiply the acts of presence there. At the same time, the kitchen furniture will then start to attach to the wall to add functionality. A few decades later, in the 50s - another era, another revolution - the open kitchen became a model of extreme modernity, particularly in the architectural achievements of Charlotte Perriand and Le Corbusier. The open kitchen then apparently extricates the woman from her traditional hidden stoves. The room dedicated to the preparation of meals opens onto the living room so that everyone can go about their business in the eyes of all. Ultra functional and friendly, a bit emancipatory, the open kitchen was born.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF THE OPEN KITCHEN?
Open to the living room or dining room, this type of kitchen has the main advantage of saving space. Instead of embodying a room separated from the bustle of the heart of the home and made narrow by partitions, the open kitchen is integrated into living rooms, such as the living room or dining room, to bring in the conviviality of meals prepared with the family.
Another advantage to add to the long list of advantages: the layout of the open kitchen invites everyone to take a seat in the kitchen. It gives the illusion of breaking down the boundaries of the house. Most open-plan kitchen models have a central island or kitchen bar, which allows family members or guests to enjoy a drink halfway between the hob and the TV. Layouts that allow you to work on your computer while eating on the go or to prepare the meal while watching the children playing in the living room, and above all to enjoy your guests while being 'in the kitchen'.
Ideal for modernizing an interior, giving new life to a living room that is too traditional or a dining room that is a little too dem, the open kitchen has evolved at the same time as our lifestyles. In total osmosis with the living room or by playing the differentiation card, it has the knack of adapting to a large number of cases... and style!
WITH A BAR, A CENTRAL ISLAND, A GLASS ROOF: HOW TO PROPERLY ARRANGE AN OPEN KITCHEN?
Nevertheless, opening your kitchen to the living room is not trivial. This means that the rest of the living room around the kitchen must be modified and adapted, whereas traditionally, the two rooms do not meet.
Open-plan kitchens don't lend themselves to every space. It is preferable to integrate it into a large surface to give an impression of fluidity and to furnish the said space that could seem empty without this double room. Indeed, it would be better to avoid that guests sitting on the sofa have the impression of being too close to the kitchen. The proximity must be moderate, especially when it comes to the smells specific to the kitchen. As a result, the open kitchen requires a few essential elements. First of all, an efficient, silent and built-in hood, in order to keep bad smells away from the living room.
The open kitchen is much more pleasant when it displays a visual separation such as a kitchen island, bar or dining table. As for kitchen furniture, she will prefer kitchen furniture with doors. Such a layout will appreciate all the more the large built-in appliances that blend into the décor thanks to clever kitchen furniture such as a column cabinet to accommodate a refrigerator, a built-in dishwasher... Because the secret to well-designed open kitchens is none other than organization! Everything must stay in its place and most often hidden in a piece of furniture!
As you can see, over the decades, open kitchens have lost none of their charm of yesteryear. They simply require a different organization than a traditional kitchen. While you can leave the worktop messy after preparing a dish in a conventional kitchen, cleaning must be easy and quick in an open kitchen. If you appreciate the contemporary and ultra-lively style of this living space where the hustle and bustle of the stove takes on warm aspects, discover all our advice and inspiration around the open kitchen.